BRIDE ROVERS GAA CLUB NOTES.

 

 

  .REBELS EXTRA HEARTBREAK.

History was made for all the wrong reasons last Sunday in Croke Park as Cork hurlers were pipped by Clare after an absolutely wonderful game. Fair play to Clare their fourth time taking home the Liam McCarthy Cup and their fifth ever Senior Hurling title -Mike Liddane was smiling in the rain in Cobh a few weeks back when he played on thee Rovers winning League team, he’s really over the moon this week! Rightly so because Clare won a superb game of hurling and Tony Kelly’s goal was a score that will be shown for the ages. The unfortunate history that was made in GAA HQ was the fact that for the first time in the 140 years of the Association a draw in the All Ireland Final didn’t end up in a replay. From 1959 until 2012 we never had a drawn Hurling Final. Like when your ages waiting for a bus, next thing three come along together – we had 3 in a row of stalemated Finals.  In 2012 Kilkenny beat Galway in a replay and two years later did the same thing to Tipperary. In between Clare beat us in 2013. All’s changed now. Since the introduction of the Split Season -thousands love it, personally I think it’s an absolute disaster, one way or another when the Split Season was voted in all replays were done away with. No point in complaining now but when we saw so many players cramping and absolutely ‘out on their     feet’ in Croke Park on Sunday the lunacy of this policy was well demonstrated. No sour grapes here - Clare are a wonderful, skilful and sporting team and are worthy All Ireland Champions and Brian Lohan a great player in his day is now a brilliant manager.  Having played at break-neck pace and speed for 78 minutes I think both teams deserved a replay. Yes of course it would mean readjusting County Championship Fixtures but that’s not an impossible task. Theses players from Cork and Clare have trained since December and in my opinion having the All Ireland Title decided by extra time is wrong. The build up last week was just magic with flags and buntings everywhere. Sunday in Dublin was electric. It was just great to see that 1999 team walk out with the Cup. East Cork really dominated that team with Timmy McCarthy from Castlelyons, Kieran Morrison and Johnny Sheehan from St Catherines, Donal Og and the Rock from Cloyne, Seanie Farrell from Carrig, Captain Mark Landers, Joe and Bernard from Killeagh, Mickey O Connel from Midleton and Brian Corcoran from Erins Own. It was spine-tingling to see them all on the famed green sod last Sunday with manager Jimmy Barry Murphy. The late Fred Sheedy of Kilworth who was a selector with the team was in our thoughts too. A roller coaster of a game we surely had on Sunday. Up 7 points Cork dominated early on. Once Clare got into the game we had an absolute hum-dinger until the final whistle when Pat Horgan levelled the match. Looking back now we can talk about all the ifs and buts- frees we didn’t get but what’s done is done and what’s won is won and what’s lost is lost and gone forever.  Well done to our own Brian and Eoin Roche who were on the Cork Panel during this championship journey. Thanks to all in our own Club who begged, borrowed and persuaded those in high places to help with the ticket ‘famine’. It’s been a wonderful campaign for Cork given the opening day result below in Walsh Park. Thanks to Pat Ryan and his management team -we mightn’t be All Ireland champions but we are very close to that elusive Crown we haven’t won since 2005.

 

UNDER 12 FOOTBALL. Round 3 of the football meant the visit of Buttevant to Páirc na Bríde last Tuesday and after losing our first two games, this was a significant game in the season. Buttevant had already beaten Glanmire so had a win behind them and started this game well with 2 points inside the first 3 mins. 2 goals in 3 minutes put them firmly in the lead after 8 minutes before Noah Collins scored our first point of the game from a free to make it 2-2 to 0-1 after 10 minutes. Buttevant added two frees of their own on 12 and 14 minutes to go 9 points up. 

A few positional changes to counter the Buttevant threat brought our lads storming into the game and Noah Collins added another free to make it 2-4 to 0-2 after 16 minutes. On 18 minutes, Rovers ripped through the Buttevant defence with some great movement and passing between Jack Fitzgerald,  Tommy Conway and Kai Roddis before Jack rattled the net from distance. Noah Collins followed up with a point before getting a goal of his own following good work from Harry O’Keeffe and Thomas Hegarty. Game on! 2-4 to 2-3 in favour of Buttevant at half time. 

Within 2 minutes of the restart, Tommy Conway had us level and 2 minutes later, Noah Collins had the ball in the back of the net, after batting the ball in from a Kai Roddis free. Rovers were now 3 points up and dominating. The next 17 minutes provided no scores as both teams went hammer and tongs at each other as the crowd also came to life. Buttevant added a free on the 20 min mark to leave 2 in it but immediately Rovers broke and Kai Roddis ran onto a ball over the top to get a goal. Conor Healy added another from a free before Buttevant ended the game with a free of their own. Final score: Bride Rovers 4-5 Buttevant 2-6. A magnificent victory after coming from 9 points down.

 

The next game in this group is against Douglas on Fri Aug 2nd. Before that, 28 of this group take part in Cúl Camp so we wish them all the best for the week.

 

FOOTBALL FINAL. Hurling over it’s Armagh and Galway trying to take Sam Maguire home on Sunday next. The Boys from the County Armagh have just one title, won in 2002 and have lost just three others in 1953, 1977 and when defending their crown in 2003. Galway on the other hand have nine titles won and appeared in 13 other deciders. Their much lamented former manager John O Mahony died recently- he led the Westerners to their last two titles,  in 1998 (the day we beat Dungourney below in Cobh) and in 2001. History could well be made also on next Sunday if Armagh win. GAA President Jarlath Burns from the Silverbridge Club could  be presenting the Cup to an Armagh side that includes his son Jarly Og. In their semi final win over Kerry Jarly Og came on and scored a point, ‘made’ a point and played very well. One way or another it promises to be a memorable occasion- the first time in years without Dublin, Kerry or Mayo.

 

MINOR FOOTBALL.

Bride Rovers travelled to Glanworth on Wednesday 17/07 to take on St Dominic's in the last round of this years minor football league

The game started with a point from play for the lads, however St Dominic's responded by raising the first major flag and tacking on a point thereafter.

as the half wore on the lads started to gain a foothold and gathered a bit of momentum on the scoreboard though placed balls and nice passages of play with every effort being rewarded as a score recorded in the referees book, at half time the lads sat on a six point lead and were value for it with some great team play

The second half was the polar opposite of the first with regard to the lads efforts being rewarded on the score board, every effort that sailed over the black spot in the first half sailed past the butt of the post or drifted away wide in the second half, all the while St Dominic's picked off scores on the counterattack to narrow the deficit, and with the last kick of the game claimed a draw, final score St Dominic's 2-08, Bride Rovers 1-11

Match squad, Dave O'Connell, Eanna Lyons, David Cash, Jack Lynch, Ronan Barry, Oran Kielty, Cillain O'Sullivan, Adam Cronin, Sean Dowling, Conor O'Riordan, Cormac Barry, Gearoid O'Connell, Garry Quirke, Tomas O'Riordan, Jack Mannix, Shane Prendergast

 WEEKLY CLUB LOTTO- JACKPOT AT €20,000.

The Lotto Results for Tuesday 16th of July 2024 the four  Numbers drawn were 1, 22, 23 & 27and there was No Winner of the €19,800 Jackpot . Congrats to our lucky dip €30 cash winners: Rebecca Donegan, c/o Spar, Paddy Brennan, Castlecomer, Kathleen Johnson, Ballyreidy, Rian, Evie & Hollie O’Flynn, Lisurla and Eleanor Carey, Monanig

CUL CAMP.  Well the 2024 Cul Camp is getting closer. Sunday next is All Ireland Football Final Day between Galway and Armagh and the following morning, Monday July 29th, our Cul Camp for 200 participants will commence. It will run until the following Friday August 2nd so excitement is at fever pitch in anticipation of a super week. Anyone who can help out with Car Parking and Stewarding -just contact any Juvenile Club Officer.

UNDER 14 FOTBALL.

We were away to Aghada in football on Friday evening.  Holidays are still leaving us down 5 to 6 players for every game. The lads to be fair to them are putting in a huge effort but results just aren't going our way.  The first half started off well with an early goal and point. Aghada then settled into their passing game and we found it hard to slow their progress.  They were up by 6 at half-time.  We had the wind in the second half and managed to add on a few scores but Aghada just had the legs to keep the pressure on, running out winners at full-time. 

Aghada 8-11 Bride Rovers 5-4.

We are at home to Carrigtwohill on Friday evening at 7 in the main pitch. 

Condolences to the Scanlan and Finn families from all the under14 players and parents.

MET IN KENYA.

Fr Seanie Barry is due back in Ireland this week on holiday and we hope he will have a relaxing and enjoyable time. Last week in Nairobi  Fr Seanie had a visit from the Tanaiste Micheal Martin TD who was on a State Visit to Kenya.

 

JOIN BRIDE ROVERS CLUB 100.

A few years back as we began planning for our Club’s centenary in 2028 the Club 100 concept was put in place. It’s a method whereby supporters and benefactors of the Club can commit to heling the Bride Rovers GAA Club. All finance raised has gone into major Club developments in recent years. Now with massive 3 pitch Development project in Ballybrowney well under way we will need huge funds over the next decade. There are three levels of Club 100 membership; Gold, Siver and Bronze. The Gold membership costs €480 annually and for this on gets 2 Annual Club Lotto tickets plus,2 Rebel Bounty Draw Tickets and family Membership of the Club.

The Silver costs €360 and give 2 Lotto and 1 Rebel Bounty and Membership for 1 adult and 1 child or 2 children)

The Bronze option comes in at €240 and brings1 Annual Club Lotto ticket plus, 1 Rebel Bounty and individual Membership. Please consider joining our Club 100. Full details from any Club Officer. It was in the Autumn of 1928 that  a group of Gaels gathered in the old Band Room in Bartlemy to consider forming a ‘united club’ in the parish. Thus was the Bride Rovers GAA Club formed 96 years ago.

 COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIPS BEGIN.

The 2024 County Championships at Senior and Intermediate grades begin in earnest this weekend. Over the next month the Bride Rovers Club will host a number of big games and of course we will be in action ourselves.  Our first game in Pairc na Bride is this coming Friday nigh July 26th at 7.45.  Mitchelstown will face St Vincent’s in the County Intermediate Football Championship. On Saturday week August 2n we can expect a huge crowd when Castlelyons face Fermoy in our Group of the County SAHC, this game will also be at 7.45. Gerard lane will be in contact with Club members re the various Stewarding tasks for these two games. Any Club Member that is available to help on either or both nights- please contact Ger. Miah Dennehy the former soccer player who died last November was also a fine Gaelic Footballer and played Intermediate Championship for his Club St Vincents against Grange in Pairc na Bride in the 1980’s.

HUGE PROGRESS AT BALLYBROWNEY.

As you will all have seen works on the second  pitch in Pynes has gone very well and the Contractors, Hourihan's,  have now demobilised from site.

They have planted grass seeds around the car park area where they had their stockpile of material so for the next couple of weeks and to allow for the grass to take hold in this area we ask that everyone continues to use the lower gate into the field. It is also very important nobody drives on the new pitch or anywhere where Hourihan's have put in grass seed. The whole project is now really taking shape and during the week we took some Drone Pictures which give a great overall view of the progress made in recent weeks. In total we estimate the total cost of the New Pich Complex will be in or around one million Euro!

 

KATIE, SARAH & CORK.

Hard luck to Sarah Murphy and Katie Quirke and their Cork teammates on losing the All Ireland ladies Football semi final in Tullamore last Saturday. Galway came out on top by three points and the Tribeswomen now face Kerry in the Final

 

 

EAST CORK JUNIOR C FOOTBALL. Last Saturday week saw our second junior football team play an experienced Glenville team in the JCFC in Glenville. Players were scarce on the evening, but effort certainly was not and some excellent point scoring was on display from both sides. Despite a strong comeback in the third quarter from the Rovers which featured  super fielding from Darragh O’Sullivan as well as standout points from William Finnegan and Ronan O’Riordan, Glenville emerged as deserved winner on the day. Well done to all who made themselves available on the night.

 

Team: Steven Glasgow, Michael Carey, Liam Collins. Gearoid Gubbins, Colin Hogan. William Finnegan, James Bermingham, Darragh O Sullivan, Ronan O Riordan, Fergus Collins, Patrick Croke, Shane O Flynn, Ryan O Callaghan, Frank O'Flynn, Aiden Dorgan.

 

FOOTBALL TICKETS. We have plenty Galway folk in our midst and a few with Armagh relatives but our Club will only get 2 Tickets for next Sunday’s Final.

SYMPATHY. The Bride Rovers Club extends it’s deepest sympathy to the Finn and Scanlan families on their recent bereavements.

 

BRIDE ROVERS CLUB SPONSORS are; Rathcormac Tyres, Fermoy Print & Design, Gerard Gubbins Construction and Veoli